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16 Apr 2015

He Toki ki te Mahi is made up of a consortium that
brings together the strengths, knowledge, expertise, capability and networks of
Ngāi Tahu, Te Tapuae o Rehua, CPIT and Hawkins Group. It is a Māori-led
initiative that will operate under a collaborative governance structure
incorporating iwi (Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu), industry (Hawkins) and the tertiary
sector (Christchurch Polytechnic and Te Tapuae o Rehua)

The He Toki ki te Mahi Apprenticeship Training Trust
has been launched by Prime Minister, the Rt Hon John Key at Rehua Marae in
Christchurch.

With large numbers of Māori progressing through the
highly successful pre-trades training, He Toki ki te Rika, which was
established after the February 2011 earthquake, the programme has now extended
its support to three education pathways: a pre-trade pathway; an apprenticeship
pathway and a leadership pathway.

The He Toki ki te Mahi Apprenticeship Training Trust
aims to increase Māori apprenticeship participation and
completion rates. The initial cohort will focus on carpentry apprentices but
further development of the initiative will include a wider selection of trade
disciplines that will align with the He Toki Ki Te Rika pre-trade training
programme.

"We're very proud of what has already been achieved
through the pre-trades training programme He Toki ki te Rika," he says.

"Over 800 students have enrolled in He Toki ki te Rika
since it began. It has become recognised as a flag ship for the other consortia
around New Zealand that are establishing their own trades training programmes.
I'm confident that He Toki ki te Mahi will further build on this success to
produce well-qualified apprentices who will contribute significantly to the
construction leadership of the Christchurch rebuild and beyond."

He Toki ki te Mahi is starting off with a small group
of 10-15 carpentry apprentices who have been through He Toki ki te Rika; but we
aim to increase that number to 50-plus new apprentices by the end of this year.

He Toki ki te Mahi has been designed for work-ready
individuals who have completed some trades study, or have a demonstrated work
history.

CPIT Chief Executive Kay Giles said the institute was
delighted to be involved in the next stage of He Toki ki te Rika. "He Toki ki
te Mahi is building on the success of the trades training programme to support
graduates to transition into apprenticeships. As a partnership, we are looking
toward the future – beyond programme completion and that first job on site, to
the pathways needed to create sustainable careers and resilient futures," she
said.

Hawkins Group Chief Executive Geoff Hunt says that his
company and staff feel privileged to be a partner in this life-changing
programme. "Our aim is to provide the industry support and employer perspective
to ensure that the flow of the trainees and apprentices meets industry's needs.
Our staff are also becoming more knowledgeable mentors and building
understanding and respect for Maori culture."

About He Toki ki te Mahi – Māori Apprenticeship
Training Trust

He Toki ki te Mahi is a charitable trust organisation
committed to supporting Māori through their trades apprenticeship. We mentor
Māori apprentices through the apprenticeship journey in a way that is
customized to best meet their learning needs.

We are committed to Māori success and increasing the
number of Māori entering and achieving their trades
apprenticeships.

The Benefits

This group training scheme gives the apprentice, the
employer and the Trust a win-win situation. The apprentice gains competency
and experience with a host employer while receiving on-going Māori-mentored
apprenticeship support throughout their training. The Trust takes on all the
employment and administration involved in employing an apprentice, enabling the
host employer to focus on their core business and to train the apprentice. The
nation benefits from a successful model that will increase Māori participation
and completion in the New Zealand Apprenticeship system; and the associated
research around best practice models for supporting Māori apprentices.